Budget25: Almost €2.8 billion to Be spent on Defence in 2025

Bratislava, October 15 (TASR) - Next year 2 percent of GDP, or almost €2.8 billion, should go for defence next year, according to the 2025-2027 draft general government budget approved by the government on Tuesday. NATO member states have committed themselves to invest at least 2 percent of their GDP in defence. Almost the whole intended for the defence of the state should go to the Defence Ministry. "The Defence Ministry's expenditure for 2025 is budgeted at €2.78 billion, which is an increase of €167 million year-on-year (y-o-y)," stated the Finance Ministry. According to the approved draft, the biggest projects launched by the Defence Ministry include the procurement of F-16 fighter jets, tracked combat vehicles and 8x8 armoured combat vehicles. Slovakia has been budgeting 2 percent of its GDP for defence since 2023. In 2023 the defence sector spent 1.74 percent of GDP. "The Defence Ministry drew €280 million less on current expenditure and €32 million less on capital expenditure. Together with the money from previous years, it carried over capital expenses amounting to €126 million to the next year," wrote the Finance Ministry. ko/mcs